21.06.2025 16:34
Students brought a belly dancer to the graduation ceremony of Middle East Technical University. While the moments of the belly dancer's performance sparked reactions on social media, the university responded to the incident by initiating an investigation.
At the graduation ceremony held at METU on May 30, students danced in front of the Faculty of Economic and Administrative Sciences Building B with a belly dancer they brought inside.
STUDENTS CAME TOGETHER AND BROUGHT
It was learned that the students who brought the belly dancer were from various faculties. The videos showing the belly dancer caused reactions on social media.
AN EXPLANATION FROM THE SCHOOL
The rectorate made a statement regarding the news published about the incident. In the statement from the school, it was said, "The incident in question was carried out on May 28, 2025, completely on an individual initiative, without the knowledge and permission of our University. It has been clearly determined through security camera recordings and investigations by the relevant units that some individuals appearing in the footage have no connection to the campus and entered the campus from outside."
AN INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN INITIATED
In the statement indicating that the incident had no relation to METU's official graduation ceremony, it was stated, "Our University’s Graduation Ceremony for the 2024-2025 Academic Year will be held on July 13, 2025." The rectorate noted that the necessary investigation processes regarding the incident, which is inconsistent with the university's corporate values, have begun.
"OUR UNIVERSITY DESERVES TO BE REMEMBERED FOR ITS STANCE BASED ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY"
Additionally, in the statement, it was expressed, "We strongly condemn such deliberate distortions and smear campaigns aimed at overshadowing METU's corporate identity. Our university deserves to be remembered for its stance based on scientific approaches rooted in universal values and social responsibility."